ScienceDaily.com broke a story today about an article that will published in the May 22, 2009 issue of Science. The article focuses on what is more efficient – converting biomass to fuel or converting biomass to electricity? The study authors wrote in the online edition of the journal that the best bet is to convert the biomass to electricity rather …
NREL Recipient of Recovery Act Funding
“The goal is to set America on a course for a secure and sustainable energy future.” DOE Energy Secretary Steven Chu The alternative energy industry is already receiving the monies set aside to help spur the economy and reduce America’s dependence on fossil-fuel based energy sources. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory was the recipient of $110 million in funding, announced …
“Super-Organism” Leads to Cellulosic Breakthrough
The golden dream may have become reality today as Mascoma Corporation announced a major technological breakthrough in the process strategy for production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass known as consolidated bioprocessing, or CBP. The major advantage of CBP is that is significantly reduces the cost to produce cellulosic ethanol by combining several steps into one through the use of a …
President Clinton to Speak at Ethanol Summit in Brazil
Lay down the red carpet. Former President Bill Clinton will be a headliner at this year’s Ethanol Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil June 1-3, 2009. The conference is hosted by UNICA,vthe Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), and is touted as one of the most important gatherings focused on biofuels in the world. After eight years in the white house, President …
States Race to Become Leaders in Energy Economy
It appears that the race is on as many states across the country vie for the winning position of “leader in renewable energy”. The latest state to post an entry is Missouri. The state is turning to alternative energy to replace jobs lost due to economic turmoil that includes an auto industry near collapse. Several months ago, President Obama was …
U.S. Slow to Adopt E15 While Brazil Considers E30
While the United States government drags its feet on making a decision to offer American motorists the choice to use E15 at the pump, the Brazilian government is contemplating an ethanol blend increase from E25 to E30. Currently the EPA comment period to get feedback on the increase to E12 or E15 is open, and the U.S. ethanol industry is …
NRDC Launches Good Vs. Bad Biofuels Campaign
A new campaign funded by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has created controversy in the biofuels industry. The campaign was developed, according to a blog post by Nathanael Greene, “to sharpen the distinction between biofuels done right and biofuels done wrong.” The campaign cites that ethanol plants using coal power is “wrong” as well as biofuels that “pillage” natural …
Book Review – The Party’s Over
I went back in time this week (if you can call five years ago back in time) and read Richard Heinberg’s, “The Party’s Over“. I was curious to see how the thinking about our addiction to fossil fuels and the need to adopt renewable energy has changed. Well, it really hasn’t. Like many other authors who wrote books about oil …
Criticisms of Sperling’s Role in the LCFS Heating Up
Two weeks ago I reviewed, “Two Billion Cars” by Daniel Sperling and Deborah Gordon. I focused on several aspects but I did not tie together this important point: Daniel Sperling vehemently dislikes corn ethanol and he is the lead researcher for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) that just passed the Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS). The LCFS was a …
FedEx Announces “30 by 30” Initiative
During a recent session of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce aviation forum, FedEx announced that it has a goal of using renewable fuels for 30 percent of its fuel needs by 2030. The company is confident that this action will both reduce air-transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions. According to a New York Times article published yesterday, CEO Fred Smith …